Pumping apparatus



Oct. 20, 1942. E GOEHRING 2,299,692

PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1940 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Oct. 20, 1942. E.E. GOEHRING 2,299,692

PUMPING APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- PatentedOct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT o- OFFICE PUMPING APPARATUS Edward E.Goehring, Longview, Tex.

Application May 21, 1940, Serial No. 336,331

2 Claims.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus and particularly to a meansfor pumping liquid from deep wells. One object of this invention is toprovide such a device in which the pumping clement reciprocates througha cycle, the timing and extent of which may be controlled accurately andat the will of the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the characterreferred to in which the transmission of power is accomplished throughthe medium of hydraulic transmission in a system which may be maintainedfull at all times.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device in whichthe weight of the reciprocating pumping parts is counterbalanced with asubstantially constant force.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for maintaining aliquid transmission system of the type set forth filled to apredetermined degree.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for absorbing theshock which would otherwise be encountered in the reversal of thedirection of movement of the parts in a reciprocating pumping systememploying a hydraulic transmission.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction in which aunidirectional hydraulic pumping mechanism may be utilized for thepurpose of driving reciprocating deep well pumping mechanism with theleast possible consumption of power and with the least possible shockand wear and tear on the apparatus.

Another object is to providev a means for maintaining the liquid to besupplied to the transmission system at substantially the sametemperature as the liquid within the system.

Another object is to provide a means whereby the liquid transmisisonsystem may be rendered inoperative, to permit free movement of the primemover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure in which thenecessity for high pressure stufllng boxes will be eliminated.

Another object is to provide a counterweight structure for a device ofthe character referred to, which structure will be cheap to constructand easy to adjust and at the same time readily handled whenever it maybecome necessary to obtain access to and work upon the support therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and advantageousmeans for supporting the pumping rods.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pumping apparatusconstructed in accordance with this invention, parts of the same beingbroken away and shown in cross section for the purpose of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic flow cycle employedin the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to Fig. 1, the apparatus is adapted to restupon a frame comprising a pair of hollow beams I, joined together bymeans of cross members 2 and 3. The source of power in this illustrationis the motor 4, which may be of any desired type, and which, through anyconventional driving mechanism 5, propels the rotary pump 6. This rotarypump 6 is provided with intake 1 and output or exhaust line 8. Theselines may be joined by a by-pass line 9, controlled by a manual valveH).

The intake and exhaust from the pump 6 are connected to a slide valve IIat the points l2 and 13, respectively. The active element of the slidevalve II is the slide H and movement of this slide, as will readily beseen, will serve to connect the inlet and outlet of the pump 6alternately to the lines l5 and It. When in the position shown in Fig.1, the inlet to the pump is in communication with the pipe l5 and theoutlet from the pump is in communication with the pipe l6. v

It will be understood that in actual practice there are two pipes I5 andtwo pipes it because in the form illustrated there are two powercylinders, as will be presently described.

The driving mechanism just described is mounted on the cross member 3 inFig. 1 and these parts are positioned between the cylindrical hollowsupports I.

Between the pipes l5 and ii there is also connected a cylindrical shockabsorbing device I'lhaving a piston l8 therein. This piston I8 isprovided with oppositely extending 'tapered' plungers l9 adapted toengage respectively with in the openings through the orifice members 20.These orifice members 20 are adjustable toward and away from each otherby means of the screws 2|, and between each of these orifice members andthe piston I8 is a spring 22. These springs- 22 serve to normally centerthe piston l8 between the oriilce members 20 but it willbe seen.

that when the piston I8 is moved toward either one or the other of theseorifice members, the tapered plunger on one end of the piston will enterthe opening in such orifice member and gradually choke the passagetherethrough until it substantially closes the same. i

The pipes l5 and I6 both extend into one of the hollow support members iand through such support member for a substantial distance. The pipe l5then emerges, into communication with the cylinder support 23 to whichis secured, by means of bolts 24 through the flanges 25 and 25, a powercylinder 21. This power cylinder 27 has lateral openings therefrom at 28adjacent its upper end and surrounding the power cylinder 21 is a jacket29 just slightly larger than the power cylinder so as to provide anannular space about the power cylinder and in communication with thepower cylinder at its upper end. This annular space isconnected througha small drain tube 38 with the interior of the hollow member I; To theupper end of the sleeve 29 is secured a low pressure stufling box 3|which serves principally as a means for wiping any liquid from theplunger 32 as that plunger is withdrawn from the cylinder 21. Theplunger 32 is provided at an appropriate point of its length withsuitable piston rings 33, or the like.

It will be appreciated that there are two of the power cylinderassemblies such as just described, one on either side of the device.pended on the upper end of each of the plungers 32 is a beam 34, thisbeam having a notch 35 adjacent its central portion for the purpose ofaccommodating the upper end of the polish rod 38. Extending downwardlyand toward each other from points adjacent the opposite ends of the beam34, are suspension arms 31 carrying a block 38 between them. This block38 is adapted to support a clamping member 39 for clamping the polishrod 36 and suspending it from a point below the points of suspension ofthe beam 34 on the plungers 32. There is thus provided a balancedsuspension for the polish rod 36.

Extending laterally from the block 38, and having a part surrounding therod 40 which forms a part of the slide I4 is an arm 4| for operating thevalve slide I4.

Above and below the arm 4| and surrounding therod 40 are coiled springs42, and at predetermined spaced points above and below the arm 4|respectively are timing blocks 43 and 44, secured against sliding on therod 40 by means of setscrews 45 and 46, respectively. The slide I4 isprovided at a suitable point with depressions 41 and 48 adapted toreceive spring pressed balls Sus- transmission system leaks therefrom,

The pipe It extends in the opposite direction from the cylinder supports23 and emerges from the hollow member I to enter the lower end of acounterbalance chamber 52. Within this chamber is a cylinder 53 and aplunger 54 is reciprocable within the cylinder '53, the same havingpiston rings 55, or the like, thereon to form a substantial seal withinthe cylinder 53. The cylinder 53 is supported by suitable means, such asthe cap 55 at the upper end of the chamber 52 and this cap carries astufiing box 51 capable of resisting low pressure and wiping any liquidfrom the plunger 54. Any liquid leaking past the piston rings 55 will bedrained back through the small drain tube 58 into the interior of thehollow member Mounted on the upper end of the plunger 54 is a plug 59having a rounded upper end adapted to receive a second plug 60, which,through the medium of a head 5|, suspends the hollow counterweight stem52. This stem 52 carries a supporting plate 63 at its lower end andresting on this supporting plate 63 is an annular counterweight 64. Thiscounterweight may be of concrete or of any other desirable substance. Onits upper surface the counterweight is supplied with a plurality ofsmall annular counterweights 65, which are removable and which may beemployed to adjust the total counterweight to the exact value desired.

Adjacent the lower end of the counterweight chamber 52 is a small pumpcylinder 66 having its inletcommunicating through a pipe 61 with theinterior of the hollow member I and having its outlet communicating withthe lower end of the chamber 52 through a pipe 58. Check valves 69 andI0 are provided in said respective pipes 6'1 and 58 to prevent flowtherethrough from the chamber 52 toward the hollowmember I. The plungerII is slidably mounted in the cylinder 65 and is normally held in theupper position by a spring I2.

It will be seen that when the liquid in the in an amount such as tocause the counterweight to move downwardly an excessive amount on anystroke, the counterweight will strike the upper end of the plunger 1|forcing it downwardly and injecting a small amount of liquid into thelower end of the chamber 52.

There is also a drain tube 58' between the space below the lower end ofthe slide I4 and the hollow member I permitting communication betweenthese parts.

49, held in place by screws 50 and springs 5|.

These balls tend to hold the slide valve releasably against movementfrom one extreme position to the other.

It will be seen that when the polishrod 36 moves upwardly, the arm 4|will travel upwardly along the rod 40 until the upper end of the spring42 engages the block 43. Thereupon, the tension upon the spring 42 willincrease until it becomes great enough to move the slide I4 despite theaction of the spring pressed balls 48. The slide will then move with asnap action to its uppermost position, being urged to such position bythe spring 42. This reverses the direction of flow of the liquid so thatthe polish rod will begin to" 70 The foregoing structure is set forth indiagrammatic form in Fig. 2 of the drawings wherein like numeralsindicate corresponding parts, one of the principal differences betweenthe structure shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Fig. 2 being that inFig. 2 only a single power cylinder is illustrated and the suspension ofthe polish rod is by means of a cross head I3 resting on the upper endof the power piston, a pair of suspension bolts I4 extending downwardlyfrom the opposite ends thereof, and a second cross head I5 at the lowerends of these bolts. The polish rod I6 is suspended from the cross headI5 at a position centrally thereof.

In operation, the hollow members I will be partly filled with operatingliquid to provide a liquid supply. The entire transmission system,including the pump 6, the pipes I and 3, the valve It, the pipes I5 andI6, and the cylindrical iicient amount of such liquid-will be placed inthis system so that when the counterweight is in its lowermost positionof operation, the power plungers 32 will be in their uppermost position.

With the by-pass valve In open, the motor 4 will be started to actthrough the gearing 5 and drive the pump 5. The pump may be brought upto speed easily because it will be doing substantially no work, theliquid being by-passed from the output 8 through the by-pass 9 and intothe inlet 1.

When the pump has been brought up to'speed, the valve. III may beclosed, whereupon if it be assumed that the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 1, liquid from the output from the pump will be forcedthrough the valve II and the pipe l6 into the counterbalance chamber 52,thus serving. to lift the counterbalance higher. This movement will beaccentuated by the weight of the sucker rods hanging on the polish rod36 and forcing the plunger 32 downwardly. Liquid will thus be forcedfrom below these plungers through the pipes l5 and the valve II to theintake 1 of the pump. When the arm 4| ieaches the lowermost position, sothat the spring 42 therebe1ow-, becomes suificiently compressed againstthe block 44, which is thecondition shown in Fig. 1, the valve slide l4will be shifted to its lower position and the balls 49 will enter theuppermost notches 41. This shifting of the valve slide l4 will cause theoutput from the pump 6 to be directed into the pipe I5, thus reversingthe direction of flow in this pipe. At the same time, the input to thepump will be connected to the pipe I6 so as to take fluid balancechamber 52.

In order to. absorb theshock of reversing the direction of flow in theliquid in the pipe I5 and the reversing of of the direction of movementof the plunger 32 and the rods and other parts carried thereby, aportion of this fluid is defiected into the shock absorber l1, where itacts upon the piston [8 to move it toward the right as seen in Fig. 1.This movement toward the right at first takes place very freely beingopposed only by the spring 22 but as the tapered plunger I9 begins toenter the opening in the orifice member 20, flow from the space ahead ofthe piston I8 is choked down and the piston is thus slowed to a stop. Inthe meantime, however, the shock of reversing the flow in the pipe I5,together with the reversal of all of the mechanical parts connected tothe plunger 32 will have been taken up and; the movement in the oppositedirection may proceed.

When the plunger 32 reaches the uppermost limit of its intended travel,the upper spring 42 will become compressed and will act to move the rod40 upwardly, thus again reversing the flow of fluids in the pipes l5 andI5 and allowing the plunger 32 to move downwardly while raising thecounterweight 54. The shock of this reversal is taken in the same mannerby the same piston [8.

As heretofore noted, any leakage from any of from the counter-.

the cylinders or from the space below the valve I4 will be drained backinto the liquid supply within the member I. The liquid within the systemwill be replenished as such leakage occurs by the pump 66, ashereinbefore described.

During the operation of the device, the liquid being employed in thetransmission of power will naturally become heated. In order to avoidthe injection of cold liquid into the heated liquid in the transmissionsystem, the pipes I 5 and I6 pass through the members I, whichconstitute the fluid supply reservoir, as hereinbefore mentioned, andthus maintain the supply of liquid in the fluid reservoir atsubstantially the same temperature as the fiuid being used in thetransmission system.

It will be seen that the stroke of the well pumping device justdescribed may be varied at the will of theoperator by merely shiftingthe blocks 45 and 46 upon the rod '40. Thus, not only may the length ofthe stroke be varied, but the travel of the rods may be as a wholeraised or lowered.

Having described myinvention, I claim: 1. In a pumping apparatus, a pairof chambers .each having an inlet port remote from its upper end, agravity depressed plunger operable in each chamber, a pump plungerconnected to one of said first mentioned plungers to be operatedthereby, a unidirectional pump, means for connecting said pump to saidchambers to receive liquid from one chamber and force it into'the other,a liquid transmission medium in said chambers, pump and connectingmeans, means carried by one of said plungers for reversing theconnections between said chambers and said pump when said plungerreaches each end of its stroke, a cylinder having one end connected toeach of said chambers, a piston slidably mounted within said cylinder, achoke opening on each side of said piston, and means closing said chokepiston to check 2. In a pumping apparatus, a pair of chambers eachhaving an inlet port remote from its upper end, a gravity depressedplunger operable in each chamber, a pump plunger connected to one ofsaid first mentioned plungers to be operated thereby,' a unidirectionalpump, means for connecting said pump to said chambers to receive liquidfrom one chamber and force it into the other, a liquid transmissionmedium in said chambers, pump and connecting means, means carried by-oneof said plungers for reversing the connections between said chambers andsaid pump when said plunger reaches eachend of its stroke, a cylinderhaving one end connected to each of said chambers, a piston slidablymounted within said cylinder, a choke opening on each side of saidpiston, means closing said choke opening on movement of said piston tocheck movement of said piston, and resilient means on each side of saidpiston for normally retaining it in a central position within saidcylinder.

EDWARD E. GOEl-IRING.

